Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-04-08
a Tr.redy I'm Hagerstown.-

a Tragedy In ktaSerrtO""
About eleven o'clock Tuesday night
Abraham l.. BOwser, an employe OF the
Ereninq Globe, of Hagerstown. commit
ted suicide BY shooting himself, in tire
storeroom of HAYS Brothers, after nav
ing been detected In riding the money
drawer OF that firm. The proprietors
had for some time past missed small
sums of money, which, they concluded
had been taken from the till at night
after the store had been closed. Sus-
picions finally pointed to Bows as the
guilty party. Early Tuesday evening
Bowser's movements aroused suspicion.
and it was thought that he would make
another attempt during the night to ROB
the drawer. For the purpose OF frns-
trating his designs. Mr.. Ira w. Hays
the proprietor of the Globe, and MIR.
Walter NJ. Wolfe, a clerk in the store
secreted themselves in the room after
the store had closed. Shortly before
eleven o'clock Bowser was heard crawl
ing through the outside window into
the composing room Of the Globe oflice'
which is Immediately in the rear OF the
store. He gained an entrance to the
storeroom through another window, the
fastenings of both having been removed
by him during the early part of the
evening.
As soon as he entered the store he
passed rapidly by the watchers to the
front. where he stepped behind the
counter and began to rifle the money
drawer. His operations were Interrupt
ted by Mr.. Hays, who, springing from
his hiding place and lighting the gas,
called out: "Abe, we know you; be
quiet and nothing will be done"
Mr.. Hays at once ran toward the front
of the store, when pistol shot was fired
by Bowser. Mr.. Hays, thinking the
shot was Intended for him, at once
pointed his revolver towards Bowser,
au,l also fired. After the second shot,
although Mr.. Hayes called out several
times, no sound came frot1 behind the
counter. After waiting several min
utPs. Mr.. Wolfe hurried out for a po-
liceman. When assistance arrived,
Bowser was found lying dead in ii pool
of blood behind the counter.
Upon examination it was discovered
that the bullet had penetrated the skull
about AN inch over the right ear, aud
the burnt powder marks upon the ear,
and the location of the wound were I'M
mislakable proof Of suicide. The bali
from Mr.. Hays revolver WAS afterwards
found on the floor, several feet from
where the dead man lay.
Justice Bitner at oLce summoned a
Jury. with Mr.. John u. Adams as fore
man, who, after hearing the testimony
| OF several witnesses, brought in YER
dict of suicide by shooting. Bowser had
been in the employment of the GLOBE for
ten years, and was regarded as one OF
the best cOmpoSitOrs in the office. lie
was i'm the tweniy-siXth year Of his aye,
anG leaves wife and three children.
Person j. w. Snyder
and John II Schoppert, Of Washington,
spent few days in town the first of the
week.
The family of Rev. w. G. Hammond
have removed TO their new home in
Montgomery county, Md. Mr.. Will
Hammond will remain in Shepherds
town and keep up his studies at Shep-
herd College.
Sheriff j. G Hurst. of Harper's Ferry,
Col. r. =. Chew, Col. Frank Beckwith,
and Capt. John Il. Colston of Charles
town were in town on Wednesday.
We were pleased to have call on
Wednesday from Mr.. and Mrs. G. 5.
Hill, of Martinsburg, who were spend
ing the day in Shepherdslown.
Miss Alice Dean, of New Orleans, is
visiting Mrs. Henry Shepherd at Wild
Goose Farm, and will spend the summer
there.
The family of Mr.. Barrett, Of Hagers-
town, has moved into Mr.. j. II. Zittle's
house on Main street.
Miss Elise Shepherd has returned
home from Tennessee, where she spent
the past winter.
Mrs. Albert C. Rouzee, of Altoona,
Pa, is here visiting her mother, Mrs.
Geo. w. Chase.
Mrs. j. S. Pierce and family have re-
turned to Shepherdstown for the sum-
mer.
Mr.. w. 2. Licklder is in Baltimore
this week buying new stock of goods.
Mr.. John Longbrake and family have
moved to Martinsburg.
Miss Tudie Markell is on a visit to
friends i'm Baltimore.
Mr.. d. L. Rentch is in Baltimore this
week on business.
Badly Hurt.-On Monday after
pnop Ell Scott ,.olnraI hoy I'm ba